By Josh Ward
The second weekend of senior EFNL Grand Finals is set to take place as a rampant East Ringwood take on a talented Mooroolbark outfit whilst Ringwood will contend in a third consecutive Grand Final against South Belgrave.
Division One – East Ringwood vs Mooroolbark
East Ringwood
Ladder: 1st (17-1; 218.7%)
Leading goalkicker: Trent Farmer (58 goals)
Most times in best: James Belo (12), Trent Farmer (9), Hannin Mundy (9)
Mooroolbark
Ladder: 2nd (16-2; 164.99%)
Leading goalkicker: Jai Jordan (59 goals)
Most times in best: Aaron Mullett (13), Kane Noonan (12), Cayden Maki (11)
East Ringwood will look to put the cherry on top of a strong season when they face their closest rival Mooroolbark who have started to find their feet in the last fortnight with two impressive wins over Montrose and Mitcham.
Since taking the drop down into First Division in 2019 the Roos have built a solid foundation over 2019 and 2021 before taking a big step this year and finishing a game clear in first position, and a victory on Saturday would see them win their first premiership in two decades.
There’ve been stars across nearly every line for them, with the likes of Trent Farmer, young gun Ben Hickleton and Stephen Dinnell leading them up forward, James Belo, Mitch Farmer and Hannin Mundy in midfield plus Dylan Belo and Troy Wright down back.
They currently sit on a 14-game winning streak and have only lost three games in the past two seasons, one of which came this year against their opponents Mooroolbark.
The Mustangs have been on a very similar path to East Ringwood (albeit with no top tier action) over the last three seasons and will also be looking to break a considerable drought, with their last premiership coming in 2009.
Despite a shaky final few weeks of the home and away season, Mustangs senior coach Bret Lavars recently said the whole club was excited to be in this position and that team was starting to find its groove once more.
“Post the win on the weekend everyone was really, really excited. Two weeks prior we’d really disappointed ourselves and got beaten by a hungrier side in Mitcham that day,” Lavars said.
“We looked back and we’ve been able to re-evaluate a couple of things in regards to how we were going about things and tinker with our personnel as much as our ball movement.
“We’ve been able to see the fruits of our labour, we went back to playing the brand of footy we’d been playing earlier in the year.”
They’ve been led once more through the midfield by the likes of Kane Noonan, Austin Smith, Ryley Monkhorst, Cayden Maki and Aaron Mullett.
Lavars has been impressed with the impact they have on the field, believing them to have set the standard not just the last few weeks, but for the season.
“Any time you get your leaders playing really good footy you’re more than likely going to be in the contest.
“And I feel like the last couple of weeks especially our midfield group led by our captain Kane alongside Ryley, Austin and Cayden any time they’ve got ball in hand we feel pretty confident they’re going to make a good decision.”
Having already faced the Roos twice this season Lavars also believes the game will be won in that midfield battle.
“I think the two times we’ve played them it’s probably been the difference. That first time we were able to get a hold of East Ringwood in that second half and I feel that the East Ringwood midfield got the better of us in our last encounter.
“That was a disappointing performance but the boys will be out to atone this week that’s for sure.”
Division Two – South Belgrave vs Ringwood
South Belgrave
Ladder: 1st (16-2; 188.58%)
Leading goalkicker: Timothy Smith (72 goals)
Most times in best: Timothy Smith (12), Mitch Garner (11), Charlie Peters (10)
Ringwood
Ladder: 2nd (14-4; 187.43%)
Leading goalkicker: Mitch Jackson (32 goals)
Most times in best: Mitch Jackson (10), Sam Wadley (10), James Parker (9)
South Belgrave have been the benchmark all year long in Division Two but will be put to the test against a side that’s been in this situation plenty of times recently.
Since joining the EFNL from the old Yarra Valley Mountain District league in 2008 the Saints have slowly but steadily climbed through the divisions and now sit a game away from winning a second consecutive premiership in three years.
Much has been written about their potent attack, which includes ex-AFL players such as Tim Smith and Taylor Garner plus ex-Rowville tall Damian Garner and 2019 premiership members Leigh Odermatt and Sam Brown.
However, there’s plenty of talent across all three lines, with Mitch Garner having a dominant season in ruck, Cayden Black and Charlie Peters stepping up in the absence of Liam Kidd, whilst Ryan Silver, Jay Robertson and Brody Connelly have also been solid down back.
Outside of Mulgrave their opponents for this Sunday have been their greatest challengers all year long and will be looking to get their Grand Final monkey off their back and win their first premiership in 17 years.
Ringwood coach Brett Rowe recently said that there was a good vibe around the club after making their third consecutive Grand Final.
“It’s really great vibes, everyone’s really excited. The volunteers put in so much work and our committee put in a power of work and hours just to keep the club going,” Rowe said.
“It’s a reward for effort for them as well.”
This time around the Redbacks will come in as underdogs, with Rowe adding that they’re more than happy to embrace that mantle.
“(South Belgrave) finished two games clear so we’re happy to embrace the underdog tag.
“Those past two grand finals we definitely were the favourite so it’s been a bit more of a relaxed look about us this week, the boys are just keen to get out there and play.”
Rowe’s defensive system has also been at its best this season, with the Redbacks so far only conceding 49.6 points per game this season, with the likes of Tim Jones, Jacob May, Jack Murfett and Scott Laing all flourishing due to it.
And after losing the Farmer brothers, smaller forwards such as Mitch Jackson and Mitch Brereton have stepped up and kicked goals whilst ex-Vermont player Sam Wadley, Jett Latchford in the ruck plus James Parker and Jack Blyth on the wings have also had impressive seasons.
Rowe believes that if they can continue to perform as they have all year it’ll help push them into getting that elusive premiership
“They’ve all had terrific years as a group and if we can get a bit of ascendancy in there then it’ll go a long way into the end result of the game.”
